Run Riot Pinot Noir Central Coast 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep, ruby red color. The nose presents a dense marriage of black cherries and blackberry with a healthy dose of brown baking spices, dark chocolate, and hints of smoky bacon and cassis. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and jammy black fruit-driven core with waves of baking spices and subtle earth tones finishing with soft, chewy tannins. This is bigger and more jammy than your typical Pinot Noir but it is quite vibrant with bright acidity and framing tannins that provide ideal balance. $19.99 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Tongue Dancer Wines Putnam Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2014
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep ruby red with hints of purple. The nose is filled with the scents of ripe red and black berries with supporting notes of earth, mineral, dried herbs, forest floor, nutmeg, and hints of leather that emerge after extended aeration. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but very vibrant fruit-driven core with generous accents of earth, spice, and oak finish that lingers on for minutes. Medium to full-bodied with ideal proportions and balance thanks to a bright dose of fresh acidity. The wine's texture is equal to the pleasing flavors as it feels weighty without ever being heavy. Made with 100% Pinot Noir. $65 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
MacPhail Wightman House Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2014
Deep, ruby red color. The nose is quite complex offering scents of ripe, sweet red cherries with equal portions of tart cherries flanked by toasted oak, subtle earth accents, and a hint of clove. The palate concurs with the nose delivering a very rich and concentrated fruit core with the sweet and sour red fruits still competing for domination. On the back palate we find trailing notes of spice and oak finishing with firm but well-integrated tannins. Full-bodied with dense fruit and decadent wood flavors and a refreshing dose of acidity. Made with 100% Pinot Noir. $55 – 4 Stars – 93 points
MacPhail Lakeview Vineyard Pinot Noir Green Valley of Russian River Valley 2014
Deep, ruby red color. The nose is complex and inviting offering scents of red cherry and raspberry with generous accents of toasted oak, anise, allspice, and subtle earth notes. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush but vibrant fruit-driven core with pretty oak and spice notes in the flanks finishing with soft, silky tannins. Medium to full-bodied with lush, bright fruit and a beautiful creamy texture that is equally vibrant thanks to generous dose of acidity. Made with 100% Pinot Noir. $49 – 4.5 Stars – 95 points
Giesen Pinot Noir Marlborough 2014
Brilliant, translucent ruby red color. The nose is very expressive and complex offering scents of red plum, wild red berries, and cherry with supporting notes of clove, anise, mineral, and hints of earth. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and juicy core with flanking notes of brown baking spices, earth, and mineral that adds structure and length. Medium-bodied with perfect balance and great length with long trailing tart fruit and spice accents and soft tannins. $30 – 4.5 Stars – 94 points
60 Souls Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2014
Deep, ruby red color. The nose is complex and beautiful offering scents of raspberry, blackberry, and cherry with supporting notes of red currants, forest floor, oak, and allspice. The palate echoes the nose delivering a dense but very vibrant fruit-centric core that features both sweet, ripe berries with tart berries and subtle accents of earth, spice, and oak. Medium-bodied with generous fruit, soft, supple tannins, and perfect balance due to a bright dose of fresh acidity. $25 – 4 Stars – 91 points
Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande Valley 2013
Bright, semi-deep ruby red color. The nose is quite pleasing and complex with fruit in the lead offering scents of red cherry, cranberry, and wild strawberries with supporting notes of mineral, dried herbs, allspice, nutmeg, and wood. The palate echoes the nose delivering a fruit core that's more tart than sweet with layers of red fruits with earth, and brown baking spices and cloncluding with oak. Medium to full-bodied with ideal balance with a vibrant dose of acidity and trailing spice accents. $25 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Stephen Ross Estate Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2013
Deep, dense ruby red color. The aromatics are wonderfully compex with scents of ripe raspberry, blueberry and red cherry with supporting notes of mineral, allspice & nutmeg, oak, and fresh herbs. The palate opens with a flood of ripe red berries that soon give way to spicy mix that becomes hot on the finish with hints of green stem as well. Full-bodied with an assertive ripe fruit focus with accents of tart berries and plum brandy. $32 – 3 Stars – 85 points
Tolosa Winery Estate Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2013
Bright, ruby red color. The nose is quite dry with tart, dried red berries in the lead with generous doses of earth, cigar box, and saddle leather with hints of oak and spice. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich tart fruit core with flanking notes of brown spice, and earth with accents of sour cherry and trailing black pepper. This is a full-bodied and sturdy Pinot with a firm but approachable structure and ideal balance with a vibrant dose of acidity. $32 – 4 Stars – 90 points
Effort Pinot Noir Edna Valley 2013
Deep, quite dark ruby red color. The nose is filled with the scents of ripe red berries with waves of brown spice, oak, mineral, black pepper, and green herbs. The palate is in full agreemnt with the nose delivering a lush fruit-driven core with generous waves of green vegetation, oak, brown baking spices, and earth. This is a big and fat Pinot with loads of ripe fruit being equaled by spice and earth notes and assertive tannins. $27 – 3 Stars – 85 points
